Darkness and light: the retrospective exhibition on the painter Ribera at the Petit Palais

The Petit Palais is organizing a retrospective exhibition in tribute to one of the greatest painters of his time: Jusepe de Ribera. Come and discover the works of this artist of contrasts, with the exhibition Darkness and Light, from November 5, 2024 to February 23, 2025.

One of the great artists of his time, a master of Italian painting: Jusepe de Ribera is honored at the Petit Palais, from November 5, 2024 to February 23, 2025. Don't miss the major retrospective dedicated to this exceptional painter, entitled Darkness and Light.

Born in Spain, Ribera arrived in Italy in the early 1600s. Just as the great painter Caravaggio was leaving Rome for Naples, the young Spaniard settled in the Eternal City to perfect his artistic training. This first period was rich in creativity: Ribera explored the techniques of the live model, chiaroscuro, realism and gesture, all of which would later make him a renowned and respected painter.

Numerous paintings from this Roman period can be admired today, some of which have very recently been attributed to the artist. Ribera became a master of realism, striking and shocking viewers with his work on textures, attention to detail and raw staging. He was particularly passionate about the body, the five senses - the subject of a series of paintings - and religious scenes.

By the time he left Rome, Ribera was already a highly regarded artist. He arrived in Naples, and his style and popularity only increased over the years. The second part of the exhibition looks back at this period of his life, marked by important commissions from the religious authorities and the great families of Naples.

Ribera's talent for immortalizing reality with his brush made him an exceptional artist. His choice to depict the marginalized, the weak and the poor fascinates as much as it shocks. Ribera gives his subjects power and strong emotions.

Martyrs, the flayed, the dying and ancient myths are not embellished, sweetened or chastely reimagined. The brutality of reality, suffering and human ferocity are forcefully revealed on the canvases of this artist, who makes a bold impression.

The tour also includes some more unexpected, lesser-known works, such as drawings and engravings by Ribera. A surprising choice of medium for an heir to Caravaggio in 17th-century Italy.

The exhibition at the Petit Palais offers a complete overview of the life and career of this exceptional artist. Over a hundred paintings, prints and drawings have been brought together to reveal the genius and importance of Jusepe de Ribera during the Caravaggio period, of which Ribera is a worthy descendant.

Lovers of paintings and Italy, don't miss this unique retrospective devoted to a major 17th-century artist.